Carrying bag construction



Nov. 24, 1964 M. KlsH, JR

CARRYING BAC CONSTRUCTION 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 7, 1961 A. E I

Nov. 24, 1964VV M. Kl-sH, JR 3,158,238

CARRYING BAG CONSTRUCTION Filed March 7, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 32 f z- E; 5

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Nov. 24, 1964 M. KlsH, JR' 3,158,238

CARRYING BAG CONSTRUCTION Filed March 7. 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 A Tram/Vf United States Patent() My invention relates to a novel carrying bag such as a valise or bowling ball bag and more specifically relates to the novel co .rbination of a relatively rigid bag body formed in two halves, a Zipper for zippering the tvvo halves together, and a reinforcing steel rod running around the ends of the bag halves. As an important feature of the invention, the reinforcing rods which may be of steel are contained within a novel extruded member' which permits sirnpliiied and improved assembly of the rigid bag halves, zipper and rods. As a still further feature, the bottom of the wo rigid halves can have a novel funge which eliminates the need for expensive iinishing of the bag portion where the zipper ends meet.

lt is old in the art to provide a carrying bag which is formed of two half sections and has a zipper closure. in these arrangements, however, the body ofthe carrying bag is normally of a fabric material. Moreover, it is old in the art, when a Zipper closure is used, to provide steel rods which encircle the bag andwhieh are secured to either side of the Y: per fabric.

Carrying bags which are formed of a rigid body such as the molded shell type of bag where the two halves of the bag are formed of a rigid plastic type material are well known. ln these bags, however, the closure is normally accomplished by overlapping the adjacent shell halves. That is to say, metal Valances which run around the ends of the two shell halves overlap when tliebag is closed. Such metal Valances are expensive and can be easily deformed to prevent the closing of the bag.

In the present invention, a novel combination is provided of a bag having a rigid body (p 1eviously using the overlapping type of closure) with a zipper closure and metal reinforcing rod running around the ends of the rigid bag halves. With such a novel combination it has been found that the bag can be more economically produced, and that it can absorb considerable shock which formerly would deiorm or partially destroy the bag since the zipper fabric will operate to absorb shock. it will be noted that zippered fabric has Lever before served this function since it has been used-in the past with fabric typebags which inherently resist or absorb shock. As an important feature of the invention, the reinforcinT rods which give rigidity to the outer open ends of the bag halves may be housed within a novel extruded member. This extruded member can also serve the fun"- tion of permitting simplied and improved assembly of the zipper, the rods and the shell halves. Moreover, thev extruded material can have a larger cross section at those portions where it is exposed to substantial wear. Preierably, the extrusion has an extending lip to cover the ends of the bag halves and thus hide them from View.

As an important feature of the use of the novel extruded member for housing the `reinforcing rod, the extruded member may have an extending section at one sideV which is to be secured to bag half. This extending portion is relatively flexible so that the securing, as by sewing, between the extension of the extruded member and the bag half, is relatively independent of variations in thickness of the bag half and variations in the peripheral dimensions or contour of the end of the bag halves. prior use of valance members where the valanceV was prothe end of its respectiveI This is to be contrasted to thel vided with a slot in an edge thereof which received the .l l end of the bag halves. Since this slot is a rigid dimen- ICC sion it could not absorb variations in thickness of the bag half ends lso that it had to be at least as large in width as the largest thickness which the bag could achieve.

Therefore, over an appreciable length of the securing member between the valance and the bag end there was free space which is unsightly. Alternative to leaving this unsightly space it was necessary, when assembling the valance and bag, to file down those enlarged thickness portions of the bag which prevent its insertion in the slot in the valance.

All of these problems are clearly avoided by the use of the novel extruded member which has an extending portion which can be relatively flexible and is directly secured to the bag end. ln addition, the novel extruded member of the invention will automatically absorb different contours of the bag halves.

Further, where the stitching for assembling the combination is taken directly through the rigid bag, so that relatively large, unsightly holes are formed in the bag material, the stitching can be taken through an extension on the extrusion which overlies the bag and whereby the unsightly large holes in the bag material are hidden from View. Moreover, and as an unexpected advantage, by causing the extension of the novel extruded housing to be directly secured to the bag halves, a rigid unitary assembly is provided wherein the reinforcing rods are rigidly secured to their respective shell halves in a single securing operation such as a stitched line running around the overlapped portion of housing and bag end. lt is t0 be noted that the novel extruded housing can be generallyused in both hard and soft bags having zipper closures,

Finally, 'and in further combination with the novel` bag which will serveras a positive hinge for the bag halvesv which also covers the bottom of the bag at the portion Where the zipper ends terminate so that expensive tirneconsumingV inishing operations of this portion can be eliminated.

Accordingly, a primary object of this `invention is to provide a novel carrying bag construction which includes a rigid bag material, a zipper closure and reinforcing members for the ends of the bag halves.

Afurther object of this invention is to provide a novel carrying bag construction that lends itself to inexpensive manufacturing techniques. y

A further object of this invention is -to provide a novel carrying bag which has improved Wearcharacteristics.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a novel extruded member for receiving a reinforcing steel rod which permits easy assembly of the body of a carrying bag and a zipper closure therefor.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a .novel hinge construction for carrying bags.

when closed. Y

FIGURE 3 shows a side View of the bag of FIGUR-ES 1 and 2.

FIGURE 4 shows a bottom view of the bag of FIG- URES 1, 2 and Sand particularly illustrates the manner in which the bottom of the bag is normally iinished in the area at which the zipper ends terminate.

FIGURE shows a perspective view of the fastening between the bag halves, the zipper closure and the steel reinforcing rods where various layers are peeled away to particularly illustrate the novel combination of the invention.

FIGURE 6 is a cross sectional view through one of the bag halves of FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of the construction of one of the bag halves of FIGURES 1 through 4 with various layers stripped away to particularly illustrate the manner in which an extruded member can be used in accordance with the invention.

FIGURE 8 is a cross sectional view through the structure of FIGURE 7.

FIGURE 9 is similar to FIGURE 8 and shows a modiiication of the structure of FIGURE 8 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIGURE 10 illustrates 4an alternate form of the extruded member of the invention.

FIGURE ll shows a further modification of the extrusion of FIGURES 7 and 8 in accordance With the invention.

FIGURE 12 illustrates the manner in which a novel light weight hinge may be applied to the bottom of the bag.

FIGURE 13 is a cross sectional view taken through the hinge of FIGURE 12 across lines 13-13 of FIGURE 12.

In the foregoing figures, I have illustrated therein a carrying bag specifically adapted for carrying a bowling ball. It is, however, apparent that this type of carrying bag is used for illustrative purposes and the invention may be applied generally to-any type of carrying bag.

In FIGURES 1, 2 and 3 the carrying bag is formed of two halves Ztl and 2li. As best shown in FIGURE 1, two ball cup halves 22 and 23 receive the bowling ball in the usual manner with the top of the bowling bail being enclosed by upper cups 24 and 2S when the bag is closed. The bag is hinged at the bottom along a material stitched between the tWo halves, such as the leather finishing 27 shown in FIGURE 4 which includes a first strip 2S and a second cross strip 29. The bag is further provided with upper hinge members such ashinge mem er 26 which limits the amount of opening of the bag in the usual manner. Each half is then provided with handles such as handles 3d and 31 for halves 2f' and 2l respectively.

In accordance with the present invention, the bag of FIGURES 1 through 4 is formed of a novel combination of a zipper closure, reinforcing rods for the outer ends of each of halves 2t) and 21 and a rigid material which forms the halves and 21, where specically each of halves 225i and 21 can, for example, be vacuum formed plastic members.

As will be set forth later in detail and as illustrated in FIGURES 1 through 4, rigid rods contained within cover or housing members 32 and 33 run around and are secured to the ends of halves 2t) and 2i and are further secured to zipper fabric halves 34 and 35 respectively.

This novel combination is best seen for a portion of its peripheral length in FIGURES 5 and 6. Referring now to FIGURES 5 and 6, I have shown portions of shell halves Ztl and 21 which as indicated previously can be of some relatively rigid materials such as a plastic or liber. Under the ends of each of halves 2t) and 21 there are fiber backing strips 36 and 37 respectively which run around the complete periphery of their respective shell Cil l and 39 are then covered by fabric strips 32 and 33 shown in FIGURE 1.

In assembling the novel structure the shell half 2t?, fabric cover 32 and iiber strip 36 are first sewn together along a stitched line d2 which runs around the periphery of the bag half. For purposes of further reinforcing the construction, a second stitching line t3 secures shell half 2li directly to iiber backing 36. Thereafter, the steel rod 3S is placed in position under fabric 32 and zipper fabric it? is held in place as shown and a further stitching operation is performed, shown as stitch line 4d which stitches fabric cover 32 to the zipper fabric iti and fiber liner 36. rIhe other naif of the bag 2l then has the zipper 4I, fabric cover 33, reinforcing rod 39 and its respective liner 37 assembled in an identical manner.

From the foregoing, it is seen that the novel combination of a relatively rigid bag, a reinforcing member for its end surfaces and a zipper closure is provided in a simplified manner. Moreover, the novel combination lends to the bag the highly desirable characteristic of being shock absorbent to shocks applied to the relatively rigid material of the bag halves because of the Zipper fabric portions end di, Furthermore, a high degree of misalginment between the bag halves when the bag is to be closed is permissible since a tleXible zipper closure is used. This is to be contrasted to the previously and universally used enclosure for rigid bags of a valance type closure where smail amounts of misalignment could prevent the closure of the bag. Moreover, the use of the sturdy steel reinforcing rods lends considerable strength to the bag as contrasted to the relatively thin Valances previously used whereby deformation of the bag half ends is strongly resisted.

While FIGURES 5 and 6 illustrate the combination of the invention, as a further important feature of the invention, I have found that I can substantially simplify the assembly of the novel combination and improve its appearance and characteristics by replacing fabric covers 32 and 33 by a novel extruded member for receiving rods 33 and 39. This novel extruded housing is shown in FIGURES 7 and 8 where identical identifying numerals have been given to elements identical to those of FIG- URES 5 and 6.

Referring to FIGURES 7 and 8,y a novel extruded rnember 45 is provided which has an elongated central opening therein for receiving steel rod 3S as shown. The lower portion of extrusion i5 has outwardly extending flanges t6 and i7 which will receive the elements of the combination which are to be assembled. An overhanging lip 3S is also provided which covers the end of shell 20. Clearly, a corresponding extrusion is provided for shell 21.

The zipper 4b, fiber 36 and rod 3S are then secured together by a line of stitching 49 which extends through ange 45, zipper fabric 40 and fiber 36 While a line of stitching 5l) secures rod 3S, shell 2G and fiber liner 36 together in the manner shown. Thus it is clear that manufacturing techniques are substantially simplified since it is only necessary to insert preformed rod 3S into its extruded housing 45, and thereafter assemble the unit'by the two simple stitching operations including stitch lines 49 and Sil.

Moreover, the appearance of the resultant assembly is improved since the end of shells Ztl and 21 which are exposed Vas seen in FIGURE 6 are now covered by the lip 48. Further, since an extrusion is used, those por- "tions of the assembly which will be subjected to greater halves. Each of shell halves Ziiiand 2l yare further asso- Vstrip Z9. The Zipper closure of the novel invention includes fabric zipper portions iti and 4I for halves 2Q and Z1 respectively as shown. The steel reinforcing rods 3S wear can be appropriately reinforced by havinglarger cross sectional areas. Thus, the top of extrusion 45'has Yan increased thickness since this area will be exposed to more wear than any other portion of the extrusion.-y

Furthermore, a bead is provided at the end of ange 46 to prevent the presence of a sharp edge along the bag.

While FIGURES 7 and 8 thus illustrate the general principles of the manner in which an extruded member can be used in the novel combination, a preferred embodiment of the invention as illustrated in FIGURE 9 includes a further extension 51 on lip 48 where extension 51 receives the stitched line 50. In this embodiment the stitches are therefore taken through extension 51 in the relatively soft extruded material of extrusion 45 whereby the size of the holes created by the passing of the needle are relatively small. In the case of the embodiment of FIGURES 7 and 8 the openings formed in the shell 20 on stitch line 50 are visible after assembly. This disadvantage is overcome in the embodiment or" FIGURE 9 and, as an additional benefit, the rod 38 is more securely connected to shell 20.

One of the most important advantages of the novel structure of FIGURE 9 is that the rod 38 becomes rigidly secured to the bag half 20 since it is secured thereto through the housing which is now connected to the bag half at its lower and upper portions. Thus a unitary assembly of bag half 20, housing 45 and rod 38 is provided.

A preferred method of manufacture of the bag which is permissible in view of the novel construction of the invention further adds simplification and economy to the bag. Thus in a preferred method of manufacture and referring for example to FIGURE 9, the zipper including its two extending sides, the extrusions for each bag half, the fiber liners for each bag half and the reinforcing rods are all fed into an assembled position and are run through stitching machines which perform the stitching operation shown, for example, at stitched lline 49 and a similar stitched line on the other side of the zipper fabric. Thus, the rods, fiber liner and zipper are all continuously formed in a novel simple manner. Thereafter this assembly is secured between the bag halves as by sewing along stitched line 50 and a similar stitched line for the other bag half.

As a further modification of the invention, the cross section of the extrusion can be formed as shown in FIG- URE to have a lower elongated opening for receiving the fiber liner 36. With this type of arrangement the operation of securing the various elements of combination to one another by sewing is appreciably simplified since the fiber liner 36 is inherently positioned.

As a further extension of the invention and as illustrated in FIGURE 1l, the extrusion 45 can take the shape shown whereby a lower integral extension 52 is formed in the extrusion immediately below ange 46. The zipper fabric 40 may then be inserted between extensions 46 and 52 and sewed thereto on stitched line 53 as illustrated. With this embodiment the fiber liner 36 need not extend completely across the extrusion to underlie the zipper fabric 40 but is directly sewed to shell 20 and extension 51 of extrusion 45 by stitched line 54 as illustrated.

As final feature, the combination of the inventioncan further include a novel, hinge construction which avoids the need for the relatively expensive nishing which would include strips 27 in FIGURE 4. More specifically and as shown in FIGURES 12 and 13, a hinge 55 which can be formed of two aluminum halves 56 and 57 respectively which are connected along a hinge pin 58 can be riveted to shell portions and 21 respectively. Hinge halves 56 Iand 57 can have appropriate raised portions which envelope extrusion 45 of bag half 20 and the similar extrusion 59 connected to bag half 21. This novel hinge construction as indicated above avoids the necessity for the expensive finish-ing process and further provides an improved hinge for the bag.

In the foregoing, I have described my invention only in connection with preferred embodiments thereof. Many variations and modifications of the principles of my invention within the scope of the description herein are obvious. Accordingly, I prefer to be bound not by the specific disclosure herein, but only by the appending claims.

I claim:

1. In combination, a first bag half, a second bag half, a zipper closure, and first and second reinforcing means; said first and second bag halves being of a relatively rigid material; said zipper closure havingextending first and second fabric portions; said first reinforcing means and said first fabric portion of said zipper closure being secured around at least a portion of the end of said first bag half; said second reinforcing means |and said second fabric portion of said zipper closure being secured around at least a portion of the end of said second bag half; sa-id first yand second bag halves being substantially identical; said first and second reinforcing means including a first and second high strength elongated member respectively and a first and second elongated housing member respectively at least partially encircling its respective elongated member; one side of said first and second elongated housing members being secured to said rst and second bag halves respectively; the other side of said first and second elongated housing members being secured to said first and second fabric portions respectively; each of said first and second elongated housing members being an extruded housing having respective openings therein for receiving said first and second elongated members; said first and second extruded housings having :lip portions extending over the end of said first and second shell halves respectively; said lip portions having extensions thereon; said extensions receiving fastening means for fastening said respective housing members to said first and second bag halves respectively.

2. A housing for a reinforcing rod for a carrying bagv half; said housing comprising an extruded member having an opening extending therethrough; said opening receiving said rod; said extrusion having an extending lower surface defining a sewing surface for fastening the periphery of said carrying bag half on top of said lower surface; said extrusion having an overhanging lip over the top of said lower surface for receiving the end of said carrying bag half.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Great Britain Nov. 9, 

1. IN COMBINATION, A FIRST BAG HALF, A SECOND BAG HALF, A ZIPPER CLOSURE, AND FIRST AND SECOND REINFORCING MEANS; SAID FIRST AND SECOND BAG HALVES BEING OF A RELATIVELY RIGID MATERIAL; SAID ZIPPER CLOSURE HAVING EXTENDING FIRST AND SECOND FABRIC PORTIONS; SAID FIRST REINFORCING MEANS AND SAID FIRST FABRIC PORTION OF SAID ZIPPER CLOSURE BEING SECURED AROUND AT LEAST A PORTION OF THE END OF SAID FIRST BAG HALF; SAID SECOND REINFORCING MEANS AND SAID SECOND FABRIC PORTION OF SAID ZIPPER CLOSURE BEING SECURED AROUND AT LEAST A PORTION OF THE END OF SAID SECOND BAG HALF; SAID FIRST AND SECOND BAG HALVES BEING SUBSTANTIALLY IDENTICAL; SAID FIRST AND SECOND REINFORCING MEANS INCLUDING A FIRST AND SECOND HIGH STRENGTH ELONGATED MEMBER RESPECTIVELY AND A FIRST AND SECOND ELONGATED HOUSING MEMBER RESPECTIVELY AT LEAST PARTIALLY ENCIRCLING ITS RESPECTIVE ELONGATED MEMBER; ONE SIDE OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND ELONGATED HOUSING MEMBERS BEING SECURED TO SAID FIRST AND SECOND BAG HALVES RESPECTIVELY; THE OTHER SIDE OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND ELONGATED HOUSING MEMBERS BEING SECURED TO SAID FIRST AND SECOND FABRIC PORTIONS RESPECTIVELY; EACH OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND ELONGATED HOUSING MEMBERS BEING AN EXTRUDED HOUSING HAVING RESPECTIVE OPENINGS THEREIN FOR RECEIVING SAID FIRST AND SECOND ELONGATED MEMBERS; SAID FIRST AND SECOND EXTRUDED HOUSINGS HAVING LIP PORTIONS EXTENDING OVER THE END OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND SHELL HALVES RESPECTIVELY; SAID LIP PORTIONS HAVING EXTENSIONS THEREON; SAID EXTENSIONS RECEIVING FASTENING MEANS FOR FASTENING SAID RESPECTIVE HOUSING MEMBERS TO SAID FIRST AND SECOND BAG HALVES RESPECTIVELY. 